Factors associated with appropriate inhaler use in patients with COPD - lessons from the REAL survey

The authors thank Clarice Field (PhD) and Paul McKiernan (PhD) of Novartis for providing medical writing support, which was funded by Novartis AG, Basel, Switzerland, in accordance with Good Publication Practice (GPP3) guidelines (http://www.ismpp.org/gpp3). Pankaj Goyal and Joao Mendes, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, contributed to the design and conceptualization of study. The survey was designed by PDD, London, United Kingdom, and GfK Switzerland AG, Basel, Switzerland. The survey was conducted by GfK Switzerland AG, Basel, Switzerland, and sponsored by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Living with Nature: Water Stories of Kampung Naga, Indonesia

Rapid urbanisation and sprawling growth have become constant hindrances to nature in most developing countries. West Java is the most populated province in Indonesia under rapid urbanisation. In this rural area of the province, however, there is a traditional Sundanese hamlet called Kampung Naga that has succeeded in cohesively cohabiting with nature. This article discusses how the interaction of water, ecology, and anthropo-systems influences the spatial layout of the village, forms its cultural landscape, and shapes people’s social life. In addition to its sustainability, this article also reflects on the challenges of the possible application of this heritage landscape system in wider contexts. Three lessons can be learned from the water heritage system of Kampung Naga: (1) Understanding how the workings of the natural landscape are critical in determining the living space development; (2) The circular water system and its metabolism could only be maintained by integrating it into its cultural, social, and economical values; (3) Community planning and water circularity create a self-sustained living unit in Kampung Naga. Findings from this study can improve our body of knowledge of potential solutions for future spatial development, where the relationship between human and water could be profoundly re-established

Induction of Caspase-Mediated Apoptosis in HepG2 Liver Carcinoma Cells Using Mutagen–Antioxidant Conjugated Self-Assembled Novel Carbazole Nanoparticles and In Silico Modeling Studies

In this study, novel self-assembled carbazole-thiooctanoic acid nanoparticles (CTNs) were synthesized from amino carbazole (a mutagen) and thiooctanoic acid (an antioxidant). The nanoparticles were characterized using hyperspectral techniques. Then, the antiproliferative potential of CTNs was determined in HepG2 liver carcinoma cells. This study employed a solvent-antisolvent interaction method to synthesize a spherical CTN of size less than 50 nm. Moreover, CT was subsequently capped to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the additional comparative studies. The CT derivative was synthesized from carbazole and lipoic acid by the amide bond formation reaction using a coupling agent. Furthermore, it was characterized using infrared (IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The CT-capped gold nanoparticles (CTAuNPs) were prepared from CT, chloroauric acid, and NaBH4. The CTAuNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible, high-resolution TEM, DLS, and Fourier transform IR techniques. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing ability of both nanoparticles were determined in HepG2 cells. The results demonstrate that CTNs exhibit antiproliferative activity in the cancerous HepG2 cells. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of CT against human EGFR suppressor protein to gain more insights into the binding mode of the CT, which may show a significant role in anticancer therapy

Mosaic Garden City: redefining the relation between people and nature by structuring water management through landscape infrastructure in an informal settlement, Kampung Tamansari in Bandung

Slum population has increased continuously in global south. It expands onto precarious land such as floodplains, lagoon areas and so on leading to deficiency of basic facilities. Bandung is the third most populous city in Indonesia with around 26,000 slum dwellings. Kampung Tamansari in Bandung is the densest informal settlement located along the Cikapundung river. During the Dutch colonial era, this area was meant to be a part of the green corridor under the Garden city scheme. However, the concrete mass now uprooted the green. However, since the area is located at lower level than planned area, it is hard to expand existing infrastructure into the area. Lack of infrastructure in informal settlements and densification have led to the environmental degradation and have disconnected people from nature. Treating the river as an open sewage, people directly discharge their waste into it. Clogged ditches with garbage as well as cemented pavements which restrains water from going into the soil results in flash floods. Therefore, nature and human activities enter a vicious cycle which requires the redefinition of this relationship. This research aims to reconnect people and nature by improving their living quality through ecosystem service. It is based on two main research fields. First, Ecopolis gives a structure to create self-governing ecologically sustainable city. Tjallingi’s Ecopolis strategy helps to look into the site based on three different perspectives: area, flow and participation. Kampung Naga is used as a case study to understand how Indonesian cultural landscape creates a circular water system. Next, Kampung Tamansari is used as a showcase to explore how the ecopolis strategy can be applied into the context of a developing country. It shows how people can change their recognition of the potential of nature and how can their activities positively influence in nature in a long-term. The design strategy starts from place making for green spaces. Relocation is considered in this stage. Relocating houses are arranged in North Kampung as creating three types of enclosures (enclosure, semi-enclosure, expanded semi-enclosure). Each enclosures are transformed into different green patches to serve different ecosystem service and make people responsible to maintain the spaces. Green patches consist of kitchen garden, pit-forest and riverfront park. Kitchen garden is built in enclosure space which offers basic facilities using dry-toilet module which can recycle human faeces, generate electricity and store rain water. It lets people create their own kitchen garden to overcome food insecurity. Pit-forest is permaculture system using plant-based ecosystem service combined with organic waste management. River front park is the most open space which connects people to the river. Furthermore, it shows users visible circular water system. On the other hand, these three green patches work together as one stormwater management system. It links each other and create complementary network. Moreover, it transforms current highly linear water flow into circular water flow. This green patch strategy can be applied to other informal settlements in the similar contexts. When it is replicated, it will not only build rich ecosystem service in the informal settlement but also create mosaic garden city, Bandung in a city scale.Flowscapes StudioShared Heritage StudioArchitecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Landscape Architectur

Modern Tamil Creation Registered A. Madhavan’s Ilakkiya Chuvadukal

In the contemporary modern environment, humanity's quest for knowledge openings is spreading wider and deeper. In the contemporary modern environment, humanity's quest for knowledge openings is spreading wider and deeper. Critical trends that are part of modern art-literature texts are universally creating multifaceted openings for intellectual dialogues in everyday life. Today, its ramifications have crossed the western horizons of the world and have begun to settle in Indo-Tamil regions as well. In particular, when it comes to modern art-literary trends, the novel, short story, poem, drama, review, etc., and finally the 'review' section, which is placed in the last place, has become literature in the public space and a kind of art in the private space and is receiving unique attention. In this way, while all the other artistic-literary activities are traveling with only single functions as their characteristics, only this form of review 'perspective' has many characteristics in itself and determines the metabolism of other artistic-literary forms. As such, it deserves special attention among modern Tamil authors and in creative studies. Although the beginnings of criticism in Tamil literature date back to the period of the textualists, it gained momentum only in the early twentieth century. In particular, the marriage Selvakesavaraya Mudaliar is the starting point of modern Tamil literature. However, while he only did original review work, some of his successors have been doing review work as well as creative work. A. Madhavan deserves to be mentioned in this series

Epigenetic mechanisms and their effects on cancer incidence and treatment: a review study

Both genetic and epigenetic changes are effective in cancer incidence and development. . .Epigenetic processes are alternations of DNA and histones conformations, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histones and microRNAs patterns which are associated with genes expression or inhibition of them in cells. Some of reversible epigenetic changes such as DNA and histcone conformation alternations related to drug interaction, stabilization of telomeric quadruplex sequences, DNA hypermethylation and histone acetylation and phosphorylation have been recognized as promising novel therapeutic targets in various cancers. In the present review, . molecular mechanisms of epigenetics, epigenetic changes in tumors, and epigenetic based treatments are discussed

Predicted Antenna Temperatures Measured by REX/New Horizons During The Pluto’s FlybyProbing the sub-surface in Microwave

International audienceThe Pluto dwarf planet was observed in details in July 2015 by the New Horizons spacecraft (NASA) during a close-targeted flyby which reavealed surprising and fascinating landscapes with a variety of albedo and chemical composition over the surface. During the flyby, the REX microwave instrument was activated in order to measure the antenna temperature while the beam crossed Pluto’s surface. In particular, 3 scans were performed, the first two during few tens of seconds when both the day and night side of Pluto were observed, including the South pole ; and the last one during an occultation with Earth. We present here predited antenna temperatures considering the known and assumed variations of thermal and electrical properties of the Pluto’s sub-surface.. Each scan allow to observe thermal radiation at 4.2 cm wavelength of the surface and subsurface of Pluto, at different locations (latitudes / longitudes). Using a seasonnal thermal model that considers the measured Bond albedo and type of ice, we have modeled the Brightness temperatures that were measured by REX, for different amount of porosity (or thermal inertia). This modeling uses a seasonally-forced thermal model and an emissivity model in the case of circular polarized observations. An antenna temperature if then retrieved assuming a beam pattern for REX. We present here how the antenna temperatures vary with the porosity of the ices obseved

Evaluation of oxidative stress and homocysteine level in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a case-control study

Background and Aim: Along with the development of cardiac diagnostic procedures, new risk factors ,such as homocysteine role in cardiovascular disease, have been proposed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity in patients with acute myocardial infarction compared with the control group. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 45 patients with myocardial infarction admitted to Vali-e-asr hospital in Birjand and 45 healthy people matched with the case group.Total antioxidant capacity applying FRAP method and homocysteine levels were measured using ELISA The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software at the significant level P <0.05. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, sex, body mass index, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose between two groups. Total antioxidant capacity in case and control groups, respectively 837.86&plusmn;175.07 and 981.91&plusmn;276.57 &micro;mol/L and average level of homocysteine in the case and control groups, 15.77&plusmn;8.09 and 12.19&plusmn;6.75 respectively.Statistical analysis showed that the antioxidant capacity in the patient group was significantly lower than the control group (P=0.004) and no significant difference in the levels of homocysteine in both groups (P = 0.11). Conclusion: The study showed that oxidative stress and low antioxidant capacity can be associated with the pathogenesis of MI; and more studies are required to confirm the relationship between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease

Comparison between oxidative stress (8-OhdG, MDA) and atherogenic risk (AIP) factors in type 2 diabetics and healthy people: a case-control study

Background and Aim: Oxidative stress and atherogenic dyslipidemia are the main complications in type 2 diabetics. The present study aimed at comparing between serum 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and atherogenic index plasma (ARP) levels in type 2 diabetics and normal people. Materials and Methods: In this study the relevant data of 50 type 2 diabetics ,who had referred to Emam Reza educational hospital and serum samples of random 50 healthy subjects, aged 27-70 yrs, was collected. The levels of 8-OHdG, AIP, and MDA in type II diabetics were measured by means of ELISA and TBARS, respectively. Their lipid profiles and plasma autherogenic indices were assessed through an autoanalyser. Results: The case and control groups were homogenized&nbsp; regarding some demographic components such as age and gender .It was found that serum&nbsp; levels of 8OHdG,MDA, and AIP were significantly higher in the patients compared to the healthy controls ,aged 27-70 yrs (P<0.05, r=0.31). But, no significant relationship was found between 8OHdG and MDA (P=0.91, r=0.02). The high rate of lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidation in type II diabetics can reveal outstanding oxidative stress predisposing them to CVDs complications Conclusion: The lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidation in diabetic patients were indicated high oxidative stress in these patients, which can cause post complications such as cardiovascular disease

Evaluation of Rapanone and Nectandrin B as novel inhibitors for targeting the metastatic regulator protein BACH1 using breast cancer cell line Mcf-7

Cancer formation is defined as the unrestrained proliferation of cells due to various factors acting as a causing agent. A limited number of over-expressed transcription factors are contributed to the development of numerous types of cancer. The metastatic regulator protein BTB And CNC Homology 1 (BACH1) is Cap ‘N’ Collar (CNC) and it belongs to a basic region leucine zipper (bZIP) family. The presence of the least level concentration of intracellular heme BACH1 forms heterodimers with musculo aponeurotic fibrosarcoma (sMAF) proteins and inhibits or induces the target gene expression. Based on the previous studies, BACH1 plays a critical player in the conditions of senescence and oxidative stress, cycling of cell life, heme degradation pathway and cancer, especially in metastasis. Discovering new anti-cancer drugs (identification of bioactive compounds) stages finally needs to inhibit the target protein. This present study is aimed to screen and identify stability, binding affinity and analysis of pharmacokinetics of selected compounds through structural screening, ADMET, DFT and MESP. From this study, it is revealed that Rapanone and Nectandrin B have the potential to alter the degree of gene expression via binding with the BACH1 allosteric region which will further change the degree of expression of BACH1 downstream target genes involved in the regulation of cancer progression particularly in metastasis. The two plant origin compounds Rapanone and Nectandrin B might be novel candidates for developing anti-cancer drugs. The predicted compounds were further validated through in-vitro experimental approaches. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.</p